Finding Freedom from Pornography

* When police found the bloodstained body of 7 year old Ramonde Jacobs, of Mitchells Plain, they discovered – five metres away – the pornography saturated room of the rapist who had murdered her. The walls were covered with pin-ups from Scope, Stag and Bunny Girl (Cape Times, June 1991).

* Nineteen year old Elvis Jotamo testified in court that it was while paging through a Scope magazine that he visualised a sexual fantasy with an acquaintance. Over a six week period his fantasy developed into an obsession. He testified of how he had strangled Linsey Boyd and then had sex with her corpse (Die Burger 5/8/93). He was sentenced to life imprisonment for rape and murder (Argus 21/9/93).

* Convicted serial killer and Norwood rapist, Jacobus Geldenhuys, 26, testified that he was relieved when police arrested him as he knew he was incapable of stopping himself from committing further similar crimes. Geldenhuys was convicted of 15 charges including five counts of murder and three of rape. His constant obsession with violent and pornographic videos could also have played an indirect role in the happenings, the Rand Supreme Court heard (Citizen, 21/9/93).

"Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." James 1:15

The present breakdown of moral standards and the increase in lawlessness and break-up of families is related. Pornography is hostile to law and morality. It favours rebellion against morality and it advocates and encourages adultery, homosexuality, perversion and carnal desire. Pornography discriminates against and exploits women for profit. Testimony presented to the US Attorney General’s Commission on Pornography led them to unanimously declare that hard core pornography is a "manual for rape."

Pornography is the theory – rape is the practise

Advertisers know that what we see influences what we think and therefore what we do. Ideas have consequences. Actions flow from thought patterns. That is why companies invest millions of rands into advertising – because visual stimulation works. What you see influences what you become and what you do. Exposure to sexually explicit material will affect our thought patterns and habits. And pornography can be addictive.

Alcoholism is not cured through alcohol, nor is hunger satisfied with pictures of food. Porn is an insatiable cancer, stalking and devouring with ever-increasing appetite. The more one ingests, the greater the lust for more.

Dr. Victor Cline, a clinical psychologist at the University of Utah, USA, describes the four-step process whereby a person becomes addicted to porn:

Step 1: Addiction to the material and repeated return to it for sexual excitement.

Step 2: Escalation in the individual’s need for more explicit, deviant and sexually shocking material to achieve the same level of sexual stimulation.

Step 3: Desensitisation towards initially gross and shocking material so that, in time, this material becomes acceptable and desirable to the viewer.

"Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell." Matt. 5:28-29

Pornography is addictive: ". . . due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more." Ephesians 4:18-19

Pornography attacks the image of God in people (Genesis 1:27).

Pornography is anti-Christian:

"Do not be deceived; neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders . . . will inherit the Kingdom of God . . . The body is not meant for sexual immorality . . . Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit?" 1 Corinthians 6:9-19

Pornography involves the exploitation of women and often leads to the abuse of women and children.

"Whatever you did for one of the least of these . . . you did for Me." Matthew 25:40

Hope for the Porn Addict

"If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:36

For those who are already ensnared in the compulsive web of pornography it’s not too late. "The Lord has anointed me to preach good news . . . to proclaim freedom for the captives and release for the prisoners." Isaiah 61:1. There is hope for the addict who desires freedom from the time, money and energy consuming obsession of pornography.

"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love." Galatians 5:13

The people at Ephesus (Acts 19:17-20) were really converted. They had come to love God and to hate sin. They wanted to obey the Word of God and follow the Lord Jesus Christ. They wanted their lifestyles to be transformed. They didn’t keep their old books hidden in the basement. They wanted to make a clear and clean break with the pagan publications of their past. They knew that if they kept these scrolls then they might be tempted to return to them.

We need to show the same dedication today. Those who are Christians need to tear up and burn the pornographic books, magazines, posters and videos in their homes. Are you willing to destroy those things which are threatening to destroy your family and yourself? It doesn’t matter how much money all these things cost. They are accursed and you have to get rid of them. As the fire from those books went up – so the fire of the Holy Spirit came down.

Isn’t that what you need in your life?

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." Romans 8:1-2

Jesus said: "Go now and leave your life of sin." John 8:11

What Can I Do About Porn?

Information:

Read "Finding Freedom From the Pornography Plague" and "Make a Difference - A Christian Action Handbook for South Africa."

Contact ACA for a list of other available resources, tapes, videos and books.

Intercession:

Pray for those addicted to pornography, for the victims of pornography, the children, rape victims and those manipulated into prostitution and pornography. Pray that God will bring the pornographers to repentance or that He will remove them.

Involvement:

Join Africa Christian Action, Christians for Truth, STOP, Christians Against Pornography or any other pro-family group that is making a stand and doing something positive against the exploitative industry of pornography.

Speak up and voice your objections to storeowners who peddle porn. Encourage those who don’t stock anti-family materials to stand firm.

Write letters to government officials and editors of publications urging action to protect women and children from exploitation and abuse.

Contact: Africa Christian Action for more information, for counselling or resources to help you in the fight against pornography.

Obtain: Finding Freedom from the Pornography Plague – for just R8 a copy; and Make a Difference -A Christian Action Handbook for S.A. - for R59 a copy.